US media ‘giving rise to Islamophobia’

Speeches by certain public speakers covered by US media have been giving rise to Islamophobia in the United States, a senior member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says.

Speaking in an interview with Press TV, legislative director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Corey Saylor hit out at US media for making Muslims feel increasingly alienated and insecure in the society.

“What’s been really truly trouble is that some of those significant public speakers such as some of those folks that you see on FOX NEWS, have been extremely dangerous at their speech,” Saylor said.

“What that’s leading to is that this fear has turned into anger,” he added.

The remarks come as other experts have also expressed concern about the state policies, saying the government is responsible for fostering and maintaining misconceptions and hatred toward the Muslim world.

In recent weeks, the objection to the construction of an Islamic community center near ground zero revealed the extent of anti-Muslim sentiments in America.

US President Barack Obama endorsed the plan initially, citing every Americans’ right to religious freedom. However, he later backtracked on his stance, saying he believed in the legality of the project but was not necessarily endorsing it.

In a separate anti-Muslim campaign, an evangelical Church announced plans to burn the Quran on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 to commemorate the victims and take a stand against Islam.

Meanwhile, Saylor went on to say that considerable efforts have been made “to educate people as to what Islam is,” but he acknowledged that “it’s going to be a very long process.”